Martyrdom of Saint Denis of the Nativity

[1][2] The subject of the painting is the martyrdom of Pierre Berthelot, canonised as Denis of the Nativity in 1900 by Pope Leo XIII.

Together with other missionaries, he was sent on a diplomatic mission to the Aceh Sultanate, where the local Muslims demanded that they renounce their faith.

On the bottom left, we can read: "Achem de Sumatra, November 29, 1638" and "Honfleur, July 18, 1926"; on the right, the painter's signature.

In the centre, wearing his Carmelite robes, Pierre Berthelot stands impassively, with his fellow martyrs, already dead, lying around him.

Many characteristics of the painting do not appear to be particularly authentic – the clothing is perhaps reminiscent of the Maghreb while the near-nudity of some figures and the facial features of others suggest that the details were inspired by ideas of Africa rather than Asia.